Mumbai Catholic community prays for Pope Leo XIV ahead of lung surgery in Rome

Pope Leo XIV leads a mass in the port of Rimini during a pastoral visit on August 22, 2026. File pic/AFP

Rome is approximately 6150+ km from Mumbai, but many hearts seem much closer to the Italian capital. Pope Leo XIV was admitted to a hospital in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small, early-stage lung nodule.

Healing and strength

In an October 13 communication, Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, president, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has addressed all archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, catechists and lay faithful of the Latin Catholic Church in India. The CCBI president's message is, "to unite in prayer for our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, who is scheduled to undergo surgery."

Excerpts from the communication read, "I kindly request that special prayers for his successful surgery, speedy recovery, good health, and renewed strength be offered in our dioceses, parishes, religious communities, and institutions."

He points out that in "the month of the Holy Rosary let us remember Pope Leo XIV in our daily personal and community prayers, especially through the recitation of the Holy Rosary."

It ends with, asking the Lord to grant the Holy Father "healing, peace and strength and sustain him."

Power of prayer

This communication followed an October 12 message from John Rodrigues, archbishop of Bombay, addressed to parish priests/priests in charge of the Archdiocese of Bombay.

The communication stated, "The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, mentioned on Sunday that he is to undergo surgery and expressed his gratitude, saying, ‘I thank you for your spiritual closeness, and I entrust myself to your prayers.' Let us respond generously to his appeal by keeping him in our prayers, asking the Lord to guide the medical team with wisdom and skill, to grant the success of the surgery, and to bless the Holy Father with a speedy and complete recovery." It ends with saying that they should encourage the religious and lay faithful in their parishes to "join in prayer in their communities and homes for the Holy Father."

Regular practice

Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Bombay, said, "Calls for prayer in such situations are a regular practice in the Church. When Pope Francis was hospitalised, the faithful across the world were also asked to pray for him."

Oct 12
Day archbishop of Bombay issued message addressed to priests

Communityspeaks

Melwyn Fernandes, secretary of the Association of Concerned Christians,
"The Mumbai Catholic community will pray for the team of doctors who are operating for the surgical removal of the lung nodule of Pope Leo and speedy recovery of the Holy Father in a miraculous manner, and soon back to serve, all of us and spread the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Dolphy Dsouza, spokesperson of the Bombay Catholic Sabha,
"After Pope Leo XIV announced his health condition and sought prayers, the Catholic community in India and Mumbai is praying for a successful surgery and early recovery of the Holy Father."